How the complex maths works for third-placed teams to go through

How the complex maths works for third-placed teams to go throughThe expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup has brought back a rule that stirs nostalgia among fans who followed the tournaments between 1986 and 1994: qualification for the best third-placed teams.However, with 12 groups in the current competition, the math for the knockout stage has become a true logistical puzzle with 495 possible combinations.How does the new format work?With the introduction of an extra knockout round &n